Woolwich fire: 100 firefighters tackle blazes at 18-storey flat and grass below

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has taken more than 105 calls to the blaze

Some 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines are tackling two separate blazes at a block of flats in London’s docklands.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said its crews were fighting the fire on Manwood Street, North Woolwich, which appears to be at the top of a block with around 18 storeys.

A flat on the 17th floor of the building is alight, while crews are also tackling a second fire involving around one hectare of grass opposite the block.

According to a statement from the LFB, it has taken more than 105 calls to the blaze.

One resident of the flats said he was forced to alert his neighbours because the fire that started on the 17th floor did not trigger an alarm.

Mohammad Rajib Hossain, 29, said he only heard about the fire because one of his friends in a different building rang him to say she could see flames.

He continued: “I had to knock on the door, you know, they’re my neighbours, I had to knock the door and say there’s a fire.

“They didn’t know, some of them were sleeping. No one knows, there’s no fire alarm or nothing.

“There is no fire alarm in the whole building, it is inside the flat but not outside.”

Rolly Apao, 45, was told by police to keep clear of the fire as a hectare of grass next to his back garden was also alight.

Mr Apao, a healthcare assistant, said he was “scared” but confirmed the fire appears to be out now.

“I noticed the fire because of the thick smoke,” he said. “When the fire started our neighbours were also curious and we saw peoples outside the burning building, the smoke was on the top floor.

“It looked like a real inferno... but I am glad as well because firefighters were able to tackle the fire quickly. (I was) scared, but I have to pay attention of my surroundings for my safety.

“We just had the heatwave yesterday which we (have had) to deal with mentally and physically.. the heat is too much to bear.”

A local who lives “just a few metres” from a block of flats that were on fire in the north Woolwich docklands described the scene as “a real inferno”.

Fire crews from Shadwell, Dowgate, Dockhead, Shoreditch and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.

Pete Sanders, press liaison officer for the LFB who was at the scene said: “At 12.49pm this afternoon 15 fire engines and around 125 firefighters were called to a fire at flats in Manwood Street. On arrival, crews found heavy smoke being produced from a flat within the block on the top floor.

“In addition to this, they found approximately one hectare of grass fire opposite the premises.

“Crews are working really hard to bring the fire under control, but there are very challenging conditions with the flat.

“There’s lots of possessions which is making it very challenging for crews to completely get the fire out, although you can see they are now attending the fire and the fire is now under control. There’s no reports of any injuries. We’ve just had it confirmed that all persons are accounted for at this incident.”

He said there will be a “thorough investigation” following the incident to establish the cause of the fire, which has not yet been confirmed.

The LFB currently does not know exactly how many people had to be evacuated from the building.

The London Ambulance Service said it had sent “a number of resources to the scene, including advanced paramedics and our hazardous area response team”.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

It comes as some 41 properties including homes and warehouses have been destroyed in the capital as Tuesday’s heatwave saw the busiest day for London’s Fire Brigade (LFB) since the Second World War, according to Sadiq Khan.

Operating in 40C heat on Tuesday, firefighters took an estimated 2,600 emergency calls and responded to over 1,000 fire calls, the London mayor told Sky News.

Of the 16 firefighters who suffered “heat-related injuries”, two were hospitalised, LFB assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith said. Both have since been released.

The LFB yesterday declared a major incident as firefighters battled several significant fires across the capital.